FILE - In this July 22, 2006 file photo, Keith Olbermann, host of the MSNBC show, "Countdown With Keith Olbermann," talks about his show at the Summer Television Critics Association Press Tour in Pasadena,... (AP Photo/Reed Saxon, file)

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Neither side is talking about Keith Olbermann's surprise departure from MSNBC, but the gist from a slew of reports (based on anonymous insiders) is that the host's long-strained relations with management simply never recovered from his suspension over political donations. (See Politico and the Wall Street Journal for more.) Quiet talks were reportedly under way for weeks to end his contract early. The move comes on the eve of Comcast's takeover of NBC, and while many Olbermann fans think the cable giant forced him out, Mediaite and the Los Angeles Times don't think the company had a say in the move. Comcast honchos are no doubt thrilled, however, notes the LAT.

Official Comcast response: "We pledged from the day the deal was announced that we would not interfere with NBC Universal's news operations. We have not and we will not."

Show shuffle: Lawrence O'Donnell to 8pm, Ed Schultz to 10, and Cenk Uygur (of the web's Young Turks show) gets a show at 6. Rachel Maddow remains at 9.

Surprise, surprise: It had happened so abruptly, MSNBC was still running promos for his show after Olbermann's signoff.

Former Senate staffer Lawrence O'Donnell knows what he is talking about and is very insightful about what is happening inside the Congress but he is not as entertaining as Kieth Olberbombastic was as he had some funny segments in his program like the "Worst Person In The World Feature." Fox Cable News has Bill O'Boring on at the same time and CNN has the beauty and the beast which is even more boring, so the History Channel might be the best viewing at that time.

Sieglinde Seidelman

Jan 27, 2011 12:34 PM CST

I suppose nobody is interested in anything except rightwing propaganda. I'm not. I suppose I have to shop around again for another provider. Someone ought to look up the words progressive and liberal. They are not dirty words. I know there is a lot of skittishness about the comparison to how Hitlers germany came to be, but dont be surprised, if the rightwing extremists knock on your door to tell you that you had better fall into line or else!

Sieglinde Seidelman

Jan 27, 2011 12:31 PM CST

I suppose nobody is interested in anything except rightwing propaganda. I'm not. I suppose I have to shop around again for another provider. I know there is a lot of skittishness about the comparison of how Hitlers germany came to be, but dont be surprised, if the rightwing nutcases knock on your door to tell you that you had better fall into line or else!